Changes May Come To Open Records Fees

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A Kansas Senate committee wants to limit the fees charged by state and local agencies when they when fulfill requests to produce public records.

The Federal and State Affairs Committee approved a records-fee bill on a voice vote Thursday, sending the measure to the full Senate for debate.

The state’s Open Records Act says agency fees must be reasonable, but agencies still can demand hundreds of dollars.

The bill says that if a request can be met in less than an hour of staff time or less than 25 pages, the documents are to be provided free of charge. The bill limits fees for copies and staff time after that.

The League of Kansas Municipalities opposes the measure, saying local governments should set fees based on their costs.